Ignition device



March 22, 1949. i J. H. BAYARD IGNITION DEVICE Filed May 10, 1945 5 INVENTOR 7500.5 A 5/1 YARD BY M i ATTO R N EY Patented Mar. 22, 1949 IGNITION DEVICE Julius H. Bayard, Seattle, Wash., assignor to Foster Wheeler Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 10, 1945, Serial No. 592,973

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to ignition devices and more particularly to an ignition device for lighting the firing means of a furnace.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in lighting the burner or burners of furnaces which are wholly or partially surrounded by an air duct, or air chamber, in which the pressure is higher than that existing in the furnace or furnace room. In lighting the burner or burners, it is necessary to pass the ignition device through a port in the air duct or air chamber, across the air duct or chamber, and through another port in the wall of the furnace thence into the furnace chamber. The ignition device is subjected to the air currents from the air duct or chamber, particularly when it is being passed through the duct or chamber, which currents of air normally extinguish an igniter.

The present invention provides an igniter which will not be extinguished by air currents when the igniter is being used to light a burner or burners of a furnace which is wholly or partially surrounded by an air duct or chamber in which the pressure is higher than that existing in the furnace or furnace room.

The invention will be understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the igniter of the present invention with the wick thereof uncovered;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the shield positioned over the wick of the igniter;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of g. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the igniter of the present invention being passed through an air duct toward a furnace chamber.

Like characters of reference refer to the same parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, the igniter, as shown, comprises a tubular body member I0 having a frusto-conical shaped head II at the forward end thereof. The head H has an air passage l2 with an inlet It in communication with the tubular member and outlet portions I3 which extend substantially parallel to the axis of the tubular member and are adapted to direct air toward the opposite or rearward end of said tubular member, as will hereinafter be fully described. The peripheral surface l5 of the head is horizontally inclined from the end of the head nearest the body member 10 toward the opposite end. A wick l6, which is normally saturated with a combustible fluid, is mounted on the body member adjacent the head I l.

A shield I1 is slidably mounted on the body member It and is movable axially of said member. The shield l'l comprises a cylindricallyshaped metallic shell l8 which is open at the end thereof facing the head and closed at the opposite end by an end piece [9 on which the shell is mounted. The end piece l9 slidabl engages the body member iii and has a plurality of outlet passages 25 therein which outlet passages extend axially of the shield I1 and body member ID. Actuating handle 2| is secured to the end piece E9 of the shield H. The end of the body member opposite that on which head H is mounted is connected to an air line 22 through which a stream of air flows into the body member. The air line 22 may be connected to any suitable source of air such as, for example, to the air casing 23 shown in Fig. 5. The flow of air through the line 22 is controlled by a valve 30.

In Fig. 5, the present invention is disclosed as being passed through a lighting port 24 in an air casing 23 which is spaced from a furnace wall 25 to form an air chamber 26. The air chamber receives air'under pressure from a source such as a blower, not shown. The furnace chamber .is designated by the reference numeral 21 and has burner means 29.

In operation, the wick I6 i lighted and the valve 30 in the air line 22 is opened so that a stream of air passes through the line 22 into the tubular body member l0 thence into the air passage l2 in the head H. From the passage I2, air flows into the outlet portions I3 and is directed toward and over the wick l6. Shield I1 is then moved toward the forward end of the body member H], on which end the head H is mounted, by means of the actuating handle 2| until the shell l8 tightly engages the tapered peripheral surface l5 of the head ll, as shown in Fig. 2. Air from the outlet passages l3 supplies sufiicient oxygen to maintain combustion in the wick l6 and to cause flame from the wick to pass toward the end piece l9 and outwardly of the shield I! through the outlet passages 20. The flame from the outlet passages Zfl projects beyond the end piece I9. The ignition device of the present invention is then passed through the lighting port 24 in the air casing 23, as shown in Fig. 5, through the air chamber 26 thence through the lighting port 28 in the furnace wall 25 into the furnace chamber 21. The device is thereafter passed through the furnace chamber into close proximity with a burner or burners 29, which burners are lighted by the flame passing outwardly of the shield I'l through the outlet passages to. Since the wick IB is enclosed within the shield ll, the flame from the wick is not extinguished by the air currents in the air chamber 26 or in the furnace chamber 27. The normal flow of the air currents in the air chamber 26 and furnace 21 would be from the forward end of the tubular body member ID, on

which end the head H is mounted, toward the rearward end of the shield l1, theend on which,

the end piece I9 i positioned. The currents in the chambers 26 and 21, therefore, would normally cause an induced draft which draws the.

flame through the outlet passages 20. The distance the flame projects beyond the end piece 19a is controlled by means of the val vewhich controls the flow of air through theline 22 .andtbody, member ID. The body member ID is of a length sufficient to permit reaching of the burners from the outside of the furnace and -.to-permitithe use of the rearward part of the body member as a,

handle without danger of injury to the operators hands by flame from the passages 20. The shield I1 is of such length-as to bring the endpiece 19:

into close proximity with the wick l6 and to enclose the wick within the shield when theshelll8-is in engagement with the tapered peripheral Theshell l8 of theshield I! is normally of sheet metal and is heated surface I of thehead II.

to a red heat by the wick I6 within a short time.

The heated shell, therefore, assists in lighting-the understood that the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1.- An igniter comprising a tubular body member, combustiblemeans positioned on said body member adjacent one end thereof; a head disposed at said one end of the body member, said head having an air passage withan inlet in com.- munication with the tubular member and an outlet throughwhich air flows toward said combustiblemeans,a shield movable axially of the body member, the shield being open at the end thereof nearest said head and being adaptedto pass over the combustible meansand be closed at said open end by the head, an end piece closing said shield at the end thereof opposite the open end, said end piece being closely adjacentthe combustible means when the shield is in engagement withsaid head and having an outlet passage in communica v tion with the interior of the shield adapted to ber, combustible means positioned on said, body member adjacent one endv thereof, a head disposed at said one end of the body member and having a peripheral surfacehorizontally inclined toward said one end, said head having an air passage with an inlet in communication with the tubular member and an outlet through-whichairflows toward said combustible means, a shield movable axially of .the body member, the shield being open at the end thereof nearest said head and adapted to pass over the combustible means and engage the inclined peripheral surface thereof, an end piece closing said shield at the end 1 thereof opposite the open end,said end piece being closely adjacent the combustible means when thefishield is in engagement with said head and having an outlet passage-in communicationwith through which air is introduced-into said tubular 1 body member,

communication with the tubular member and am outlet through which air flows toward said wick, ashieldslidably mounted on and movable axiallyof the, body member, the shield being open at the end thereof nearest said head and adapted to pass over the wick and be closed at said-,openuend by .the head, an end piece closing said shield. at the end thereof opposite the open end, said end piece being closely adjacent the wick when the shieldis in engagement with said head andhaving'an outlet passage in communication with the interior of the shield adapted; to direct products of combustion toward the end of 'the'body member opposite said one end, and means through which air is introduced into saidtubular body member.-

4; An igniter comprising an elongated tubular 1 bodymember, awickpositioned onsaid body; member adjacent'one end thereof, a head'disposed at said one end of the body member andhaving a peripheral surface horizontally inclinedtoward said one end, the head having an air passage -with--an inlet'in communication with--thetubular member and outlets through which air flows toward and over said'wick, a shield slidably mounted on -and movable axially of the body member, the shield being open at the end thereof nearest said head and adapted to pass over the wick and engage the inclined peripheral surface ,;thereof, an end piece closing'said shield at the end thereof opposite the open end-said end piece being closely adjacent the Wick when the shield is in engagement with the peripheral surface of" the end -piece andhaving outlet passages therethrough extending substantially axially of thebody membensaid outlet passages being in communication with the interior ofthe shield, and means through which air under pressure is introduced into the tubular body member.

5. An igniter for igniting a burner of a furnace comprising a combustion chamber having anouter wall, an air casing for conducting air underpressure at the side-of said wall opposite the combustion chamber side thereof, a burner in said chamber, the casing and the chamber each having a lighting port thereinthrough which the igniter is passed forward end first through said casing and into the chamber in lighting the bur-- ner,-said igniter comprising an elongated tubular body member havinga forward end portion and-- a rearward portion, combustible means positioned on the body member-adjacent'the forward end, a head disposedat-the forward end, said head having .an air passage with an inlet in communication-withthe tubular member and an outlet through which air flows toward said combustible means, a shield movable axially of the body member, the shield 'being- -open at the end thereofnearest said head-and adapted to pass over the-- combustible means and engage the head, an end piece 'closing'said shield at the rearward end,- said end piece being closely adjacent the combustible means When the shield is in engagement I with'said head and having an-outlet passage in communication with the interior of the shield adapted to direct products of combustion toward the rearward end of the body member, and means through =which'air is introduced into the tubular body member.

6.-:'An'.igniter fordgniting aburner of a furnace comprising a combustion chamber having an outer wall, an air casing for conducting air under pressure at the side of said wall opposite the combustion chamber side thereof, a burner in said chamber, the casing and the chamber each having a lighting port therein through which the igniter is passed forward end first through said casing and into the chamber in lighting the burner, said igniter comprising an elongated body member having a forward end portion and a rearward portion, a wick positioned on the body member adjacent the forward end thereof, a head disposed at said forward end and having a peripheral surface horizontally inclined toward the forward end, the head having an air passage with an inlet in communication with the tubular member and outlets through which air flows toward said wick, a shield slidably mounted on and movable axially of the body member, the shield being open at the end thereof nearest the head and adapted to pass over the wick and engage said inclined peripheral surface, an end piece closing the shield at the rearward end, said end piece being closely adjacent the wick when the shield is in engagement with the peripheral surface of the head and having an outlet passage in communication with the interior of the shield adapted to direct prodnets of combustion toward the rearward end of the body member, and an air conduit in communication with the body member and the air duct, and means for controlling the flow of air from the air duct to the body member.

7. An igniter comprising elongated air conducting means, combustible means positioned adjacent one end of said air conducting means, said air conducting means being operatively associated with an air passage and arranged to direct air toward the combustible means and the opposite end of said conducting means, a head piece adjacent said one end of the air conducting means, a shield movable longitudinally of the conducting means, the shield being open at the end thereof nearest said head and being adapted to pass over the combustible means and be closed at the open end thereof by said head, an end piece closing said shield at the end thereof opposite the open end, said end piece being adjacent the combustible means when the shield is closed by said head piece and having an outlet passage in communication with the interior of the shield adapted to direct products of combustion outwardly and away from the shield, and means through which air is introduced into said air conducting means.

8. An igniter comprising elongated air conducting means, a wick positioned adjacent one end of said air conducting means, said air conducting means being operatively associated with an air passage and arranged to direct air toward the wick and the opposite end of the conducting means, a head piece adjacent said one end of the air conducting means, a shield movable longitudinally of the conducting means, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said shield, the shield being open at the end thereof nearest said head and being adapted to pass over the wick and be closed at the open end thereof by said head, an end piece closing said shield at the end thereof opposite the open end, said end piece being adjacent the combustible means when the shield is closed by said head piece and having an outlet passage in communication with the interior of the shield adapted to direct products of combustion outwardly and away from the shield, and means through which air under pressure is introduced into the air conducting means.

9. An igniter comprising elongated air conducting means, combustible means positioned adjacent one end of said air conducting means, said air conducting means being operatively associated with an air passage and arranged to direct air toward the combustible means and the opposite end of said conducting means, a head piece adjacent said one end of the air conducting means, a shield movable longitudinally of the conducting means, the shield being open at the end thereof nearest said head and being adapted to pass over the combustible means and-be closed at the open end thereof by said head, an end piece closing said shield at the end thereof opposite the open end, said end piece being adjacent the combustible means when the shield is closed by said head piece and having an outlet passage in communication with the interior of the shield adapted to direct products of combustion outwardly and away from the shield, means through which air under pressure is introduced into said air conducting means, and means for controlling the flow of air through the air conducting means.

10. An igniter for igniting a burner of a furnace comprising a combustion chamber having an outer Wall, an air casing for conducting air under pressure at the side of said wall opposite the combustion chamber side thereof, a burner in said chamber, the casing and the chamber each having a lighting port therein through which the one end of the igniter is first passed through said casing and into the chamber in lighting the burner, said igniter comprising elongated air conducting means, combustible means positioned adjacent one end of said air conducting means, said air conducting means being operatively associated with an air passage and arranged to direct air toward the combustible means and the opposite end of said conducting means, a head piece adjacent said one end of the air conducting means, a shield movable longitudinally of the conducting means, the shield being open at the end thereof nearest said head and being adapted to pass over the combustible means and be closed at the open end thereof by said head, an end piece closing said shield at the end thereof opposite th open end, said end piece being adjacent the combustible means when the shield is closed by said head piece and having an outlet passage in communication with the interior of the shield adapted to direct products of combustion outwardly and away from the shield, and means through which air is introduced into said air conducting means.

JULIUS H. BAYARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,520 Frankfoder Sept. 7, 1875 228,131 Smith May 25, 1880 360,382 Foster Mar. 29, 1887 611,964 Hollinshead Oct. 4, 1898 1,145,875 Andres July 13, 1915 1,377,875 Coen May 10, 1921 1,689,551 Hammod Oct. 30, 1928 1,946,883 Russo Feb. 13, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 88,777 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1921 

